Hydrangea plant named &#39;SMHPMWMH&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hydrangea  cultivar named ‘SMHPMWMH’ is disclosed, characterized by full mophead inflorescence, strong stems and upright habit. The new variety is a  Hydrangea , normally produced as an ornamental plant for containers or gardens.

Latin name of the genus and species: Hydrangea paniculata.

Variety denomination: ‘SMHPMWMH’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Hydrangea cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Timothy Wood, in Grand Haven, Mich. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Hydrangea varieties for garden use. The open pollination resulting in this new variety was made during July of 2008.

The seed parent is the unpatented commercial variety Hydrangea paniculata ‘SMNHPRZEP’. The pollen parent is unknown, as it was an open pollination breeding program. The new variety was identified as a potentially interesting selection June of 2010, at a greenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘SMHPMWMH’ by softwood cuttings was first performed during the July of 2010, at commercial greenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. Subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in 3 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SMHPMWMH’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SMHPMWMH’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SMHPMWMH’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea cultivar:

-   -   1. Full mophead inflorescence.     -   2. Strong stems     -   3. Upright habit.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMHPMWMH’ are similar to plants of the unpatented seed parent, Hydrangea paniculata ‘SMNHPRZEP’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘SMHPMWMH’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Earlier to change to pink.

Pollen parent unknown as this is product of open pollination.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘SMHPMWMH’ can be compared to the patented commercial variety Hydrangea paniculata ‘SMHPPINO’ patent pending. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however ‘SMHPMWMH’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. The comparator has a larger inflorescence.     -   2. Strong flowering stems. The comparator has strong stems, but         falls under weight of large inflorescence.     -   3. White sepals. The comparator has light green/white sepal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘SMHPMWMH’ grown in a field, in Grand Haven, Mich., USA. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 3 years. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to the 2015 Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘SMHPMWMH’ plants grown in a field, in Grand Haven, Mich., USA. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 18° C. to 27° C. daytime and 5° to 10° C. at night. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types. Measurements were taken during July of 2015.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea paniculata ‘SMHPMWMH.’ -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 18 days at             approximately 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plants.—Approximately 60 days             at approximately 24° C.         -   Root description.—Thin to thick, moderate to dense, freely             root branching, fleshy. Color is white and brown.         -   Propagation method.—Softwood cuttings. -   Plant:     -   -   Age of plant described.—3 years.         -   Pot size.—Field grown.         -   Growth habit.—Flowering perennial shrub, upright.         -   Overall plant shape.—Upright/mounded.         -   Height.—95 cm.         -   Plant spread.—80 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Good.         -   Plant vigor.—Good.         -   Branching characteristics.—Upright/outward basal branches,             some pinching required.         -   Length of lateral branches.—80 cm.         -   Number of lateral branches.—25.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—0.5-1 cm.         -   Lateral branch shape and appearance.—Rounded and slightly             wooded.         -   Lateral branch strength.—Strong, rigid.         -   Internode length.—3-4 cm.         -   Branch color.—Immature: Near RHS Greyed-green 194B with             overlay of Greyed-brown 199A.         -   Mature.—Near RHS Brown Greyed-brown 199B.         -   Branch aspect.—0-35°.         -   Branch pubescence.—Yes, more prevalent on newer growth. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite. Average Length: New: 9.1 cm.             Mature: 13.1 cm Average Width: New: 5.2 cm. Mature: 6.8 cm             Shape of blade: Ovate Apex: Acuminate Base: Obtuse to             Cuneate Margin: Serrulate and softly undulate. Texture and             appearance of top surface: New: Smooth, coriaceous Mature:             Slightly pubescent, scabrous, rugose. Texture and appearance             of bottom surface: New: Smooth and rugose. Mature: Slightly             pubescent, rugose. Leaf Pubescence: Slightly on underside of             mature leaf Color: Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green             138A Young foliage .under side: Near RHS Green 138B Mature             foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A Mature foliage under             side: Near RHS Green 138B Venation: Type: Pinnate Venation             color upper side: Near RHS Yellow-green 145A Venation color             under side: Near Yellow-Green 145C.         -   Petiole.—Average Length: 1.5 to 2 cm Diameter: 2 mm Color:             Upper side: Near RHS Yellow-green 145A Under side: Near RHA             Yellow-green 145C Texture upper side: Smooth, coriaceous.             Texture under side: Smoot, coriaceous, slightly pubescent. -   Flower:     -   -   Bloom period.—Natural Season: Mid-Summer through Fall.         -   Inflorescence.—Type: Mophead Quantity of flowers per             inflorescence: Fertile flowers, 65 Sterile Flowers, 1000's             Persistent or self-cleaning: Persistent Fragrance:             Slight-Fresh/floral.         -   Panicle.—Shape: Corymb to cyme Height: 22 cm Diameter: 17 cm         -   Sterile flower.—Androecium: Yes Bud shape: Orbicular and             lobed. Bud length: 1 mm Bud diameter: 1 mm Bud color: Near             RHS White NN155B Flower aspect: Upright and outward Flower             shape: Whorled Flower length: 2 to 2.5 cm Flower Diameter: 2             to 2.5 mm Flower Depth: 1 cm.         -   Sterile flower petals.—Petal Arrangement: Whorled Length of             petal: 1.5 mm Width of petal: 1 mm Apex: Obtuse Shape of             petal: Elliptic to obtuse Petal margin: Entire Petal Base:             Rounded to slightly acute. Petal Number: 4 Petal Texture:             Smooth, glabrous, upper and under side.         -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near RHS White NN155B             Upper surface at maturity: Near RHS White NN155B Under             surface at first opening: Near RHS White NN155B Under             surface at maturity: Near RHS White NN155B.         -   Sterile flower sepal.—Arrangement: Whorl Number: 4 Shape:             Elliptic to obtuse. Tip: Obtuse Base: Rounded to slightly             acute Margin: Entire Length: 1.4 cm Width: 1 cm Texture,             Upper: Smooth, glabrous Texture, Lower: Smooth, glabrous             Color: Upper surface at first opening: Near RHS White NN155B             Upper surface at maturity: Near RHS White NN155B then             turning to Greyed-purple 186D Under surface at first             opening: Near RHS White NN155B Under surface at maturity:             Near RHS White NN155B with slight highlighting of             Greyed-purple 186D Fading to Upper surface: Near RHS             Yellow-green 145A Fading to Under surface: Near RHS             Yellow-green 145A.         -   Sterile flower pedicel.—Length: 1 cm Diameter: 1.5 cm Angle:             0-45° Strength: Good Texture: Smooth, slightly pubescent             Color: Near RHS Yellow-green 145A.         -   Fertile flower.—Bud shape: Orbicular and lobed Bud length: 2             mm Bud diameter: 1.5 mm Bud color: Near RHS White NN155B             Flower aspect: Upright and outward. Flower shape: Orbicular             and lobed Flower length: 2.5 mm Flower diameter: 2.5 mm             Flower depth: 1 cm.         -   Fertile flower petals.—Length of petal: 1 mm Width of petal:             1.25 mm Apex: Acute Shape of petal: Ovate Petal margin:             Entire Petal Arrangement: Whorl Petal Number: 5 Petal base:             Obtuse Petal Texture: Smooth, glabrous, upper and under             side.         -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near RHA White NN155B             Upper surface at maturity: Near RHA White NN155B Under             surface at first opening. Near RHA White NN155B Under             surface at maturity: Near RHA White NN155B Upper surface             fading to: Near RHA White NN155B Lower surface fading to:             Near RHA White NN155B.         -   Fertile flower pedicel.—Angle: Range of 15-90° from             attachment Strength: Strong Length: 2.5 mm Width: 0.5 mm             Texture: Smooth, slightly pubescent. Color: Near RHS             Yellow-green 145A.         -   Fertile flower sepal.—Arrangement: Ungulate Number: 5 Shape:             Fused/inconspicuous Tip: Acute Base: Rounded to obtuse             Margin: Entire Length: less than 1 mm Width: less than 1 mm             Texture, Upper: Smooth, glabrous Texture, Lower: Smooth,             glabrous Color: Upper surface at first opening: Near RHS             Yellow-green 145A Upper surface at maturity: Near RHS             Yellow-green 145A Under surface at first opening: Near RHS             Yellow-green 145A Under surface at maturity: Near RHS             Yellow-green 145A Upper surface fading to: Near RHS             Yellow-green 145A Lower surface fading to: Near RHS             Yellow-green 145A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Sterile flower.—Stamen number: 5 Filament length: 0.75 mm             Filament color: Near RHA White NN155B Anther shape: Liner             Anther color: Near RHA White NN155B Anther length: 1 mm             Pollen amount: Some Pollen color: Near RHA White NN155B             Gynoecium: Yes Pistil number: 1 Pistil length: 1 mm Stigma             shape: Club Style length: 0.75 mm Style color: Near RHA             White NN155B Ovary color: Near RHA White NN155B.         -   Fertile flower.—Stamen number: 5 Filament length: 0.75 mm             Filament color: Near RHS Yellow-green 145A Anther shape:             Liner Anther length: 1 mm Anther color: Near RHS White             NN155B Pollen amount: Some Pollen color: Near RHS White 155B             Pistil number: 1 Pistil length: 1 mm Stigma shape: Club             Stigma color: Near RHS White NN155B Style length: 0.75 mm             Style color: Near RHS White NN155B. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Disease resistance.—Neither resistance nor susceptibility to             diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.         -   Cold tolerance.—32° C. to 36° C.         -   Fruit/seed production.—100's dust-like.         -   Other traits.—Very good resistance to sunburn or sun scald.             Strong stems tolerant to wind. Flowers hold well making them             tolerant to rain. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘SMHPMWMH’ as herein illustrated and described. 